Single Cultivar vs. Blended Matcha: Which Should You Choose?

When exploring matcha, you may wonder: Are single-cultivar options better than blends? The answer is clear — neither is better; it depends entirely on what you want to taste.

Blended Matcha: Consistency Meets Craft

Blended matcha is crafted by combining leaves from multiple cultivars. A tea master (chashi) carefully curates these blends to create a harmonious flavor profile—and that profile remains consistent harvest after harvest, despite annual variations in growing conditions.

This blending tradition is deeply rooted in Japanese tea culture. For centuries, tea masters have used their skills to achieve balance and to ensure you enjoy the same familiar taste year after year.

Japanese brands known worldwide—such as Marukyu Koyamaen and Yamamasa Koyamaen —rely on their tea master blenders for this expertise.

Single-Cultivar Matcha: Pure and Distinctive

Single-cultivar matcha comes from one specific tea variety—examples include Yabukita, Asanoka, Okumidori, and many others.

Japan has more than 100 officially registered green tea cultivars, though only a select few are commonly used for matcha. Each cultivar has its own character, shaped by genetics and terroir. That means single-cultivar matcha gives you a direct window into the individuality of that plant—whether it leans sweeter, more vegetal, or deeper in umami.

A Helpful Analogy: Grapes and Wines

Think of it like wine:

• Merlot is a grape variety, known for its distinct personality.

• A wine blend combines multiple grapes for balance and harmony.

Neither is better or worse—it depends on whether you want the purity of one variety or the complexity and consistency of a blend.

The Takeaway

• Blends: Perfect for those seeking harmony, balance, and a consistent flavor across harvests.

• Single cultivars: Ideal for exploration, allowing you to taste the unique expression of individual tea varieties.

In the end, one isn’t better than the other. It’s all about what you want to experience in your cup of matcha.

From the heart of Japan, to yours.